Ok, this probably seems like a really weird time of year to be investing in and thinking about curriculum stuff but here I am with stacks of new materials around me. I am enjoying being able to read and sort through all the new stuff without feeling hurried to get going with it (well, we have started the Cursive First already). What do I have you ask? Right Start Math Level B (Bug finished A about a month ago), Spell to Write and Read, along with Cursive First (Bug recently finished all the phonics lessons on ReadingA-Z.com), History Odyssey Ancients and Middle Ages and Catholic Mosaic.
So far I am really pleased with all of our new investments. Everything is very hands on. Both the History Odyssey and Catholic Mosaic are based around Living Books with corresponding activity ideas. Spell to Write and Read seems so sound that I am hoping that my own abysmal spelling skills will improve with the program. And of course, I absolutely love Right Start Math! I can’t say enough good thing about that program. I can’t imagine us looking elsewhere for Math until we complete the series. To begin with, we briefly tried Singapore math and hands down prefer RSM. As for science… I am planning to use the Young Scientist Club lab kits as our base, adding in Living Books and continuing our Nature Studies. I also want the kids to have some time to pursue their own projects.
I will give more thorough reviews after I’ve had a bit more time with the products but if anyone has any questions about them please feel free to leave a comment. I would be happy to chat curriculum.
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Hi…I’m just getting started and would love to know more about what you like about Right Start Math vs. Singapore. Oh, and just curious…how old is Bug?
Bug is 5. He will be 6 in Feb.
We used the Singapore Early Bird books (so maybe this isn’t a fair comparison to the Primary Grade books… although my impression seems to match reviews I’ve read). I love the Base Ten math concept. Get kids thinking in groups of tens as quickly as possibly. And although the Singapore books work on that, I just didn’t feel like it was a complete program. I was having to come up with games, activities and some other worksheets in order to make sure Bug actually got the concept rather than just filling in a color page in the book. His math skills are also far beyond his small motor skills so he HATED work book pages. I ended up tossing them aside and went back to just playing math games with him.
Then a friend suggested Right Start Math. It is so thorough I can’t imagine missing any math concepts. The spiral is at a nice pace and my kids LOVE the abacus. They also use tally marks early on so Bug was able to ‘write’ answers without having to have mastered his penmanship. I am amazed at how quickly it moves yet I’ve seldom have had to go back and do much review. It is very hands on, incorporating games, manipulatives and such. They don’t use workbook pages. Occasionally there is a project and a list of math problems.
To give you an idea of what it covers… After finishing level A (Kindergarten) he can count to 100 by 1s, 10s and 5s. He can tell you if something is even or odd. Add things like 3+7, 15+1, 20+70, 30+8, etc. He understands how to break down story problems like, “Jim had 11 cookies. He gave 5 to Sue. How many does he have left?” He can read a face clock to the quarter hour. He knows the value of all the coins.
HTH
Ohh I forgot to say… with RSM I have almost no prep. Sometimes I need to make copies of something or gather some materials but it is all outlined nicely for me. It is the one subject I really don’t want to have to think about myself. I want to trust the program we use to cover all the bases. I feel that way with RSM.
Thank you so much–that is really helpful information. I’ve already ordered the Singapore Early Bird A Books, but haven’t received them yet. If they don’t work out for us either, I’ll definitely give Right Start Math a closer look. Thanks again! 🙂
How exciting to be able to pick curriculum for your own child. Certainly one of the great advantegous of home schooling.